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Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

Required skills include

Note The following required skills should be applied as appropriate to the equipment and processes that are used in the particular winery or workplace

access workplace information to identify distillation requirements

select fit and use personal protective clothing andor equipment

confirm supply of necessary product materials and services This may include checking temperature and alcoholic strength

liaise with other work areas

prepare product and materials as required This may include

heating the incoming product

surveying vessel to be distilled

taking dips of low wine product

testing low wine product

confirm equipment status and condition This may include checking

water flow to condensers

receiver vessels for heads heart and tails

discharge valve is shut

integrity of lines and fittings

set up and start up the process This will include any tests or procedures required to meet Customs and Excise regulations

monitor the process and equipment operation to identify outofspecification results or noncompliance This may involve monitoring

cooling water flow rates to condensers

volume of charge

temperature of distillate

alcoholic strength of distillate

receivers for distillation products

pressure of still

condensate rate or flow speed

condenser andor brandy ball temperature

safety and vacuum valves

monitor supply and flow of product materials and services to and from the process

take corrective action in response to outofspecification results or noncompliance

report andor record corrective action as required

conduct product or batch changeovers

take samples and conduct tests

shut down equipment in response to an emergency situation

shut down equipment in response to routine shutdown requirements This may include

shutting off steam

shutting off water to condenser and brandy ball

checking for presence of vapour in pot

discharging waste to effluent system

prepare equipment for cleaning This may involve draining andor dismantling equipment removing waste either manually or by rinsing in preparation for cleaning and sanitation

record workplace information This will include meeting the requirements of Customs and Excise regulations

maintain work area to meet housekeeping standards

ensure that all Customs and Excise regulations are adhered to

sort collect treat recycle or dispose of waste according to enterprise procedures

carry out routine maintenance according to enterprise procedures

perform transfer operations according to enterprise procedures

identify rectify andor report environmental noncompliance according to enterprise procedures

use oral communication skillslanguage to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning active listening asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor

work cooperatively within a culturally diverse workforce

Required knowledge includes

Note The following required knowledge should be applied as appropriate to the equipment and processes that are used in the particular winery or workplace

purpose and principles of second distillation operations including definition of the following terms

second distillation

heads or feints

tails or oils higher alcohols

brandy spirit Customs definition

alcoholic content of distillation product and final product and legislative requirements

range of products produced by distillation process including fortifying spirit commercial and premium brandy

link to related processes This will include the preparation of the product to be distilled and any further processing requirements of the distillate

stages and changes which occur during distillation This will include critical temperatures alcoholic strength and specific components affected

effect of process stages on distillate and byproducts

quality characteristics and uses of a range of distillation products including fortifying spirit commercial and premium brandy

product and materials preparation requirements and effect of variation on the process

process specifications procedures and operating parameters This may include

individual still capacities

boiler pressure

alcoholic strength

winemakers specifications

equipment and instrumentation components purpose and operation

basic operating principles of process control systems where relevant

sampling and testing procedures

significance and method of monitoring control points within the process

common causes of variation and corrective action required

Occupational Health and Safety OHS hazards and controls This will include

the dangerous properties of ethyl alcohol

emergency flooding procedures

emergency evacuation procedures

handling procedures of spirits

lockout and tagout procedures

procedures and responsibility for reporting problems

environmental issues and controls

shutdown and cleaning requirements associated with changeovers and types of shutdowns

recording requirements and procedures

operational knowledge of Customs and Excise regulations

waste handling requirements and procedures where relevant

routine maintenance procedures where relevant

transfer procedures where relevant

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

Overview of assessment

Assessment must be carried out in a manner that recognises the cultural and literacy requirements of the assessee and is appropriate to the work performed Competence in this unit must be achieved in accordance with food safety standards and regulations

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of ability to

use personal protective equipment and follow other specified OHS procedures

prepare low wine for distillation including checks for temperature and alcoholic strength and undertaking any required heating of low wine

prepare and confirm status of equipment before commencing second distillation

monitor distillation process control points and equipment including taking of samples and conducting of tests

take corrective action in response to outofspecification results or noncompliance

perform routine and emergency shutdowns

demonstrate knowledge of OHS hazards controls and emergency procedures

adhere to Customs and Excise regulations

record information appropriately

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must occur in a real or simulated workplace where the assessee has access to

personal protective clothing and equipment as required

work procedures including advice on company practices safe work practices food safety quality and environmental requirements

instructions information specifications and schedules as required

equipment services and corresponding information as required

products and materials as required

internal and external customers and suppliers as required

cleaning procedures materials and equipment as required

documentation and recording requirements and procedures

Method of assessment

This unit should be assessed together with other units of competency relevant to the function or work role

Guidance information for assessment

To ensure consistency in ones performance competence should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances cases and responsibilities and where possible over a number of assessment activities

Range Statement


The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Policies and procedures	Work is carried out in accordance with workplace procedures, licensing requirements and legislative requirements
Workplace information	Workplace information can include: Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) specifications production schedules and instructions work notes Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) manufacturer instructions verbal direction from manager, supervisor or senior operator
Distillation equipment	Distillation equipment may include: pot still pumps lines and fittings valves heat exchangers condensers brandy ball receival vessels temperature controls test equipment (e.g. hydrometers and thermometers)
Product and materials	Product and materials may include: low wines
Services	Services may include: power water (hot and cold ) steam fuel
Confirming equipment status	Confirming equipment status involves: checking that hygiene and sanitation standards, safety standards and pre-start requirements are met and that equipment is operational checking the operation and calibration of measuring instrumentation
Monitoring the process	Monitoring the process may involve: the use of production data, such as speed control sheets sampling analytical tests
Process set up, operation and monitoring functions	Process set up, operation and monitoring functions may be: manual or involve the use of a process control system
Control points	Control points refer to those key points in a work process that must be monitored and controlled. This includes: food safety (critical) quality and regulatory control points inspection points
Information systems	Information systems may be: print or screen based
Work hazards	Work may involve exposure to: chemical, dangerous or hazardous substances